Diaphragm



July 3, 1962 o. E. JOHANSSON 3,042,029

DIAPHRAGM Filed June 2, 1958 INVENTOR Oscar E. Johan-swam BY m v-j ATT United States Patent 3,042,029 7 DIAPHRAGM Oscar E. Johansson, Fair Lawn, NJ, assignor to Sandvik Steel, Inc., Fair Lawn, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed June 2, 1958, Ser. No. 739,382 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-127) This invention relates to an improved construction of vaginal diaphragms. An object of this invention is to provide an improved diaphragm and peripheral ring construction thereof. A further object is to provide a diaphragm ring structure which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and which gives the diaphragm superior characteristics during use. A further object is to provide a vaginal diaphragm which is inserted with maximum facility and which adapts itself during use. A further object is to provide a diaphragm of the above character which is superior with respect to the adaptability to fit the individual user. These and other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out below.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the diaphragm shown in FIGURE 1, having opposite peripheral portions squeezed together in preparation for insertion and use;

FIGURE 3 is a top-plan view of the spring ring which is embedded within the rim of the diaphragm of FIG- URE l;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are side and top views of the spring of FIGURE 3 deflected in a position which it assumes when the diaphragm is folded in FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a diaphragm 2 has a cup portion 4 and a rim 6. As shown in FIGURE 6, the rim 6 is formed by an annular rubber bead 8 and a reinforcing spring steel ring 10 embedded within the bead. Ring 10 is formed (see also FIGURE 3) by a flat strip of spring steel which is flat wound to form two complete turns, with its ends 12 and 14 overlapping. The overlapped ends are spot welded together, thus to form the ring into a composite structure at the zone where the ends are overlapped. However, throughout the re mainder of the ring, the two turns are not interconnected and lie flat against each other, as shown in FIGURE 6, so that they may slide somewhat one upon the other. Thus, the spring is freely flexible, particularly transversely of the general planes of the flat strip forming the ring. When the diaphragm is in position, the rim 6 lies flat against the adjacent organ surfaces, and the flexibility of the spring permits the rim to accommodate itself to the contour of the surfaces. At the same time, the spring gives the rim 6 substantial rigidity, so that the cup portion of the diaphragm is held in its extended position and is completely flexible throughout.

In the use of diaphragms of this character, it is common practice to place within the cup a quantity of cream or jelly, and the diaphragm is then inserted into the vagina. With the diaphragm of the present invention, the opposite sides of the diaphragm rim are squeezed together, as shown in FIGURE 2, after the cream or jelly has been placed into the cup. This causes the rim to assume a bow shape which is also somewhat arcuate, as shown in FIGURE 2. One end of the bow is then easily inserted rearwardly into the vagina, and the diaphragm is readily moved to the proper position. When the diaphragm is being moved into its proper position, the rim is released so that the spring ring causes the rim 6 to ice move back towards its original position. As indicated above, the flat spring ring readily accommodates itself to the contour of the adjacent organ surfaces. This not only adds to the comfort, but it insures the proper fitting of the diaphragm.

It has been indicated above that the squeezing of the rim, as shown in FIGURE 2., causes it to assume a bow shape, which is also arcuate. This is best understood by reference to FIGURES 4 and 5 where the spring ring 10 is shown in somewhat the position it assumes when the two opposite sides are squeezed together, although it may have a somewhat lesser arcuate condition. When the rim is thus squeezed together, the cup takes on something of a draped condition between the two ends of the bow formed by the rim. This facilitates insertion and proper placement of the diaphragm.

In the present invention, the cup 4 and bead 8 of rim 6 are formed of dipped latex. It is understood that the cup and bead will be made of a desired rubber or other elastomer. The ring 10 is formed by winding a strip of tempered spring steel to the desired diameter and then cutting the coil into rings of two complete turns with overlapping ends. The ends are then welded together.

Under some circumstances, the ring is formed by flat winding the flat strip at a slightly greater radius than desired in the completed ring, and a ring of two turns is then out without overlapping ends, after which the ends are drawn to the overlapped position and welded, as shown. This reduces the size of the ring to the desired diameter, and causes the ring to have a slight cant or bias toward bowing in a predetermined direction. However, the ring is still a flat-wound spring, and the plane of the strip is substantially at right angles to the central axis of the ring. Under some circumstances, the ring is formed by a single turn instead of two turns, as in the preferred embodiment.

I claim:

1. A vaginal diaphragm comprising a thin flexible cup which is dome-shaped with an open mouth defined by an integral peripheral rim which is a torus when in a condition of rest whereby it is cylindrical in radial cross-section with respect to the circular path of the axis of its generating circle, and a reinforcing flat ring which is enclosed within said rim and is coextensive with said crcular path of the center of its generating circle, said flat spring tending to hold said rim in a true circular condition but permitting said rim to be flexed therefrom, said flat ring being formed of a flat strip of spring metal which has parallel faces and side edges and which has been flat wound at a predetermined radius whereby the strip remains in flat condition when in a condition of rest with said parallel faces in planes parallel to the plane of said circular path, said flat ring being radially flexed by moving diametrically opposite portions of said rim toward each other and said flat ring being thereby formed into an arcuate bow shape with the flexible cup forming a pocket which may be flexed readily and with said rim being resiliently formed into an arcuate bow with each of two sides of the bow being an arcuate portion of substantially the same curvature as the rim in rest condition and with the ends of said arcuate portions being interconnected by portions of substantially greater curvature.

2. The structure as described in claim 1 wherein said flat ring comprises two turns of flat steel in face-to-face relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Vincent July 20, 1943 Snell Ian. 16, 1951 

